Inhale steam 2 to 4 times per day (for example, while sitting in the bathroom with the shower running).

Spray with nasal saline several times per day.

Use a humidifier.

Use a Neti pot or saline squeeze bottle to flush the sinuses.

Be careful with use of over-the-counter spray nasal decongestants such as oxymetazoline (Afrin) or neosynephrine. They may help at first, but using them for more than 3 to 5 days can make nasal stuffiness worse.

Most of the time, antibiotics are not needed for acute sinusitis. Most of these infections go away on their own. Even when antibiotics do help, they may only slightly reduce the time it takes for the infection to go away. Antibiotics are more likely to be prescribed sooner for:

Children with nasal discharge, possibly with a cough, that is not getting better after 2 to 3 weeks

Fever higher than 102.2°F (39°C)

Headache or pain in the face

Severe swelling around the eyes

Acute sinusitis should be treated for 10 to 14 days. Chronic sinusitis should be treated for 3 to 4 weeks. Some people with chronic sinusitis may need special medicines to treat fungal infections.

At some point, your provider will consider:

Other prescription medicines

More testing

Referral to an ear, nose, and throat or allergy specialist

Other treatments for sinusitis include:

Allergy shots (immunotherapy) to help prevent the disease from returning

Avoiding allergy triggers

Nasal corticosteroid sprays and antihistamines to decrease swelling, especially if there are nasal polyps or allergies

Surgery to enlarge the sinus opening and drain the sinuses may also be needed. You may consider this procedure if:

Your symptoms do not go away after 3 months of treatment.

You have more than 2 or 3 episodes of acute sinusitis each year.

Most fungal sinus infections need surgery. Surgery to repair a deviated septum or nasal polyps may prevent the condition from returning.

Prevention

The best way to prevent sinusitis is to avoid colds and flu or treat problems quickly.

Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, which are rich in antioxidants and other chemicals that could boost your immune system and help your body resist infection.

Most sinus infections can be cured with self-care measures and medical treatment. If you are having repeated attacks, you should be checked for causes such as nasal polyps or other problems, such as allergies.

Symptoms

The symptoms of acute sinusitis in adults very often follow a cold that does not get better or that gets worse after 5 to 7 days. Symptoms include:

Bad breath or loss of smell

Cough, often worse at night

Fatigue and general feeling of being ill

Fever

Headache

Pressure-like pain, pain behind the eyes, toothache, or tenderness of the face

Nasal stuffiness and discharge

Sore throat and postnasal drip

Symptoms of chronic sinusitis are the same as those of acute sinusitis. However, the symptoms tend to be milder and last longer than 12 weeks.

Symptoms of sinusitis in children include:

Cold or respiratory illness that has been getting better and then begins to get worse

High fever, along with a darkened nasal discharge, that lasts for at least 3 days

Nasal discharge, with or without a cough, that has been present for more than 10 days and is not improving

Exams and Tests

The health care provider will examine you or your child for sinusitis by:

Looking in the nose for signs of polyps

Shining a light against the sinus (transillumination) for signs of inflammation

Tapping over a sinus area to find infection

The provider may view the sinuses through a fiberoptic scope (called nasal endoscopy or rhinoscopy) to diagnose sinusitis. This is often done by doctors who specialize in ear, nose, and throat problems (ENTs).

Imaging tests that may be used to decide on treatment are:

A CT scan of the sinuses to help diagnose sinusitis or view the bones and tissues of the sinuses more closely

Sinusitis is present when the tissue lining the sinuses become swollen or inflamed. It occurs as the result of an infection from a virus, bacteria, or fungus.

Causes

The sinuses are air-filled spaces in the skull. They are located behind the forehead, nasal bones, cheeks, and eyes. Healthy sinuses contain no bacteria or other germs. Most of the time, mucus is able to drain out and air is able to flow through the sinuses.

When the sinus openings become blocked or too much mucus builds up, bacteria and other germs can grow more easily.

Sinusitis can occur from one of these conditions:

Small hairs (cilia) in the sinuses fail to properly move mucus out. This may be due to some medical conditions.

Colds and allergies may cause too much mucus to be made or block the opening of the sinuses.

A deviated nasal septum, nasal bone spur, or nasal polyps may block the opening of the sinuses.

There are two types of sinusitis:

Acute sinusitis is when symptoms are present for 4 weeks or less. It is caused by bacteria growing in the sinuses.

Chronic sinusitis is when the swelling of the sinuses is present for longer than 3 months. It may be caused by bacteria or a fungus.

The following may increase the risk that an adult or child will develop sinusitis:

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